General Information

What is the Service Charge on my bill?

The service charge is a flat fee that helps recover costs involved with maintaining meters, lines and billing. Learn more by visiting the Bill Glossary.

Why is my bill so high?

There are many reasons a bill appears high, including changes in the amount of energy you use, the effects of weather and changes in electricity rates. When trying to determine why your bill is high, first compare this year's energy use to last year's by checking your bill. Look for the heading "Your Electric Use Pattern" on Page 2 of your bill. To help lower your energy costs, check out the Energy Efficiency information and tools. If you still have questions and need more information, call us at 208-388-2323 from the Treasure Valley area, or 1-800-488-6151. Personal assistance is available weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Mountain Time. Please note: Monday is our busiest day. It may be easier to reach us Tuesday through Friday.

I have problems paying my bill. What should I do?

From time-to-time, many customers experience financial problems that make paying their bill on time difficult. We care about our customers and we'd like to work with you.

Here's what you can do: Contact us as soon as you can; the quicker you do, the more likely we'll be able to make arrangements that work for you and for the company. If your problem is temporary, we're confident we can reach a suitable agreement. If your situation is likely to last for some time, one of our experienced professionals can work with you to explore payment arrangement options including information about energy assistance agencies.

I’m building a new home. What is the cost for new electric service installation?

The cost for new service varies and depends on a number of factors. Some factors include the distance of the home to our distribution lines, customer preferences for underground or overhead service and meter location. Generally, we send a company representative to the proposed site to determine a cost projection. This representative would let you know what that cost would be.

Is a deposit required to start service?

For most residential customers, no deposit is required to have residential service started, but commercial and irrigation services may require a deposit.

For more information, call us at 388-2323 from the Treasure Valley, or 1-800-488-6151. Personal assistance is available weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Mountain Time. Please note: Monday is our busiest day. It may be easier to reach us Tuesday through Friday.

What equipment does Idaho Power fix and what am I responsible for?

In general, Idaho Power is responsible for maintaining its equipment while customers are responsible for maintaining their equipment.

For example, the electric meter base installed by the initial homeowner or contractor is the customer's property. Similarly, any conduit containing electrical wires running from the house to the meter is customer-owned and maintained. Idaho Power, on the other hand, owns the electric meter and is responsible for its repair.

Idaho Power's employees are trained to maintain our equipment (meters, wires, poles, etc.) but are not authorized to make repairs to customers' equipment or appliances. Any wiring improvements, appliance repairs, etc., should be done by a qualified electrician.

How are trees pruned?

Our contractors use a procedure called directional or natural pruning. The U.S. Forest Service and International Society of Arboriculture recommend this method. Idaho Power has been named a "Tree Line USA Utility" by the National Arbor Day Foundation every year since 1997. This award recognizes the company for caring for the health of trees while removing branches and limbs growing too near company power lines. Learn more about pruning and trees from the Tree Safety section.